Regimental number | 3017 |
Place of birth | Ballarat, Victoria |
School | Middle Park State School, Victoria |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Warehouseman |
Address | 339 Montague Street, Albert Park, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 25 |
Height | 5' 7.5" |
Weight | 143 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs A Curwen, 339 Montague Street, Albert Park, Victoria |
Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of teeth) |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 7th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/24/3 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT RMS Osterley on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Age at death from cemetery records | 26 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 20), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 169 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Annie CURWEN, 339 Montague Street, Albert Park, Victoria. Native of Ballarat, Victoria |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 7th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 7 January 1916, and reverted to Private on joining the Bn. Transferred to 59th Bn, 24 February 1916, and taken on strength. Transferred to 60th Bn, 15 March 1916, and taken on strength, Tel el Kebir. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Statement, Red Cross File No 860907, 5389 Corporal L.A. HALL, B Company, 60th Bn (patient, 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, England), 17 December 1916: 'We attacked the German lines at 6.30 p.m. at Fromelles [and] within a few minutes I saw Curwen hit by shrapnel. He fell and never moved and I feel certain he was dead though I could not examine him.' Note on file: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.' Second statement, 2878 Pte R.E. POULTER, 60th Bn, 29 January 1917: 'They [Curwen and 10 others] all went over the top on 19th July at Fromelles. We had 440 yds. to cross under heavy fire and a creek to get over into the bargain. None of these men answered a roll call. In my own mind they were all killed. We could not get any bodies in, most of which lay 100 yds. out in No Man's Land.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAAB2455 file 3480347 Red Cross File No 860907 |